Diamond Mine Read Free Page B

in the trees.
    At other times, Mike was surrounded by beautiful women swathed in glamorous ballgowns. A black ear piece shoved in his ear, thick plastic glasses concealed a camera, as he sought out an enemy to place them behind bars. Or maybe he—

    â€œYeah, I think she is putting Mikey to bed. Let me get her.”
    Noting the time, she felt like kicking herself. She tried to get out the words I ’ ll call back , but Mike had already left. She was in trouble now, she had promised not to call so late.
    Tonya Thomson had been her best friend for years. Whenever something was on her mind or worrying her, Hannah called her. Recently, however, they’d made an agreement, and at this moment, she was breaking it.
    Tonya arrived on the line huffing and puffing. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œNothing’s wrong. Why does something have to be wrong?”
    â€œWell,” she said, drawing out the word. “You did promise not to call this late unless you had a problem.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I’ll call you back tomorrow.”
    â€œNo, let’s talk now.”
    â€œAre you okay?” Hannah asked, twirling a strand of hair around her finger in a nervous gesture.
    â€œYes. Why do you ask?”
    â€œYou’re breathing hard.”
    Tonya released a pent-up breath. “If you must know, when Mike said you were on the line, I became concerned and I ran downstairs to the phone.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t have done that. You could have tripped and hurt the baby.” Hannah waited for a response.
    â€œHannah, please just tell me why you called.” Tonya’s frustration radiated over the line. Touted with having the patience of Job, Tonya could only be pushed so far.
    â€œIt seems silly now.”
    â€œHannah Grace Baker, you have scared me, almost made me fall down the stairs and caused me to risk my neck, and now it’s silly!”
    Tears burned behind her eyes, and she sniffed.
    â€œAre you crying?” came Tonya’s incredulous voice.
    â€œNo.” S niff, sniff .
    â€œPlease tell me what’s wrong.”
    â€œI can’t do it anymore.”
    Tonya sighed. “What can’t you do?”
    â€œI can’t be a writer.”
    The line was silent. Exasperated, Tonya said, “Hannah, we’ve been through this. You’re already a writer. Your other books are selling well. Remember it takes time to make a name for yourself. Everyone told you that this is a marathon not a race. Besides, the publisher loved the first story in your new series.”
    â€œI bet you’re thinking about giving Melanie a piece of your mind,” Hannah said off-handedly as she stood in the hallway and studied herself in the mirror.
    â€œWhat?” asked Tonya.
    â€œWell, this was Melanie’s idea.”
    â€œCan you please stay focused?”
    â€œOf course. What I meant was Melanie was the one who introduced us years ago, and I think you have suffered ever since. So you might want to give her a piece of your mind.”
    â€œHannah, listen, not to be mean, but I can hear Mikey crying. So if you need to talk, then let’s talk.”
    Great. Now she felt like a total heel. She walked to the living room and plopped into a plush recliner. “Okay. Here it is. This book is driving me crazy! Yeah, they want it but every time I give it to them they come at me with a new set of instructions and, well, you’re the only one who knows I am writing. I have to go to the coffeehouse and work every day just to make ends meet. I have to smile like my life is all hunky-dory. Then I come home and write novels, but I don’t tell anyone because I’m too embarrassed.
    â€œAnd what’s wrong with these people? Do they not pay attention? Where is their curiosity? My picture is all over the cover. I’m just so frustrated with my entire life! And to top everything off, now I’m getting to the place where I hate even looking at this